A Survey is defined is a research method used for collecting data from a pre-defined group of respondents to gain information and insights on various topics of interest.
Surveys have a variety of purposes and can be carried out in many ways depending on the methodology
chosen and the objectives to be achieved.
The data is usually obtained through the use of standardized procedures whose purpose is to ensure that
each respondent is able to answer the questions at a level playing field to avoid biased opinions that
could influence the outcome of the research or study. A survey involves asking people for information
through a questionnaire, which can be distributed on paper, although with the arrival of new
technologies it is more common to distribute them using digital media such as social networks, email, QR
codes or URLs.
The need to observe or research facts about a situation leads us to conduct a survey. As we mentioned at
the beginning, a survey is a method of gathering information.
So what do you need to conduct a survey?
First, a sample, also referred to as audience, is needed which
should consist of a series of survey
respondent’s data with required demographic characteristics, who can relevantly answer your survey
questions and provide the best insights. Better the quality of your survey sample,
better will be your
response quality and better your insights.
Surveys come in many different forms and have a variety of purposes, but they have common underlying characteristics. The basic characteristics of a survey are:
Effective survey questions are the cornerstone for the success of any survey and subsequently, any research study. Whether it an email survey, SMS survey, web intercept survey or a mobile app survey, the single common denominator that determines how effectively you are able to collect accurate and complete survey responses is your survey questions and their types.
To conduct a survey, it is important to plan the type of survey to ensure you get the optimum number of responses required for your survey. It could be a mix of interviews and survey questions or a questionnaire. Interviews could be telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, online interviews and questionnaires can be mall surveys or web surveys. The underlying difference between a survey and a questionnaire is that a questionnaire may or may not be delivered in the form of a survey, but a survey always consists of a questionnaire.
A sample is a selection of respondents from a population in such a manner that the sample represents the total population as closely
as possible. Once you have determined your sample, the total number of individuals in that particular sample is the sample size.
Selecting a sample size depends on the end objective of your research study. It should consist of a series of survey respondents data with required demographic characteristics, who can relevantly answer your survey questions and provide the best insights. If the quality of the sample for survey is good, the response quality and insights are better.
Survey methodology studies the in-depth sampling of individual units from a population and administering data collection techniques on that sample. It includes instruments or processes that ask different question types to a predefined sample, to conduct data-collection and increase the survey response rate.
The two distinctive member types are in a survey methodology are, professionals in the field that focus on empirical survey errors and others that work to design surveys and reduce them. it is therefore both a scientific field and a profession. The primary tasks of a survey methodologist while administering a survey is to identify and create samples, validate test questions, select the mode to administer questions and validate methods for data collection, statistical analysis and data reporting.
Surveys can be administered by the time they take to complete, the two types are:
Cross-sectional studies:Cross-sectional study is defined as an observational research type that analyzes data of variables collected at one given point of time across a sample population. population or a pre-defined subset. This study type is also known as cross-sectional analysis, transverse study or prevalence study. The data gathered in a cross-sectional study is from people who are similar in all variables except the one variable which is under study. This variable remains constant throughout the cross-sectional study. This is unlike longitudinal study, where variables in the study can change over the course of research.
Longitudinal studies:Longitudinal study is an observational study that employs continuous or repeated measures to follow particular individuals over prolonged period of time often years or decades. Longitudinal study collects data that is either qualitative or quantitative in nature. In longitudinal study a survey creator is not interfering with survey respondents. Survey respondents are observed over a period of time ranging from months to even decades to observe any changes in them or their attitude. For example, a researcher wants to find out which disease affects young boys (in the age group of 10-15) then the researcher will observe the individuals over that period to collect meaningful data.
There are different ways of survey distribution. Some of the most commonly used methods are:
Email: Sending out an email is the easiest way of conducting a survey. The respondents are targeted and there is higher chance of response due to the the respondents already knowing about your brand. You can use the QuestionPro email management feature to send out and collect survey responses.
Buy respondents: Buying a sample helps achieve a lot of the response criteria because the people who are being asked to respond have signed up to do so and the qualifying criteria for the research study is met.
Embed survey in website:Embedding a survey in a website ensures that the number of responses is very high. This can be done while the person enters the website or is exiting it. A non intrusive method of collecting feedback is important to achieve a higher number of responses. The responses received are also honest due to the high brand recall value and the responses are quick to collect and analyze due to them being in a digital format.
Post to social network:Posting on social networks is another effective way of collecting responses. The survey can be posted as a link and people that follow the brand can take a survey. This method is used when there is no upper cap on the number of survey responses required and is the easiest and fastest way of eliciting responses.
QR code: QuestionPro QR codes store the URL for the survey. You can print/publish this code in magazines, on signs, business cards, or on just about any object/medium. Users with a camera phone equipped with the correct reader application can scan the image of the QR Code to open the survey in the phone’s browser.
QuestionPro App: The QuestionPro App allows to quickly circulate surveys and the responses can be collected both online and offline.
API: You can use the API integration of the QuestionPro platform for potential respondents to take your survey.
SMS: Using SMS surveys are another quick way to collect feedback. This method can be used in the case of quick responses and when the survey is simple, straightforward and not too long. This method is used to increase the open and response rate of collecting feedback.
Surveys can be distributed using one, some or a mix of the above methods depending on the basis of the research objective and the resources being used for any particular survey. Many factors play a part in the mode of distribution of surveys like cost, research study type, flexibility of questions, time to collect responses, statistical analysis to be run on data and willingness of the respondent to take part in the survey.
You can conduct a telephone or email survey and then make a selection of respondents for a face-to-face interview. Survey data are sometimes also obtained through questionnaires filled out by respondents in groups, for example, a school class or a group of shoppers in a shopping center.
You can also classify the surveys by their content, being able to use open or closed questions to know,
for example, opinions, attitudes, details of a fact, habits, experiences for a later classification and
analysis of the obtained results.
In the same way you can use some sample survey question ;
ask for the classification of different alternatives. You
can do a very short survey, with some questions that can take five minutes or less to answer, or it can
be a very long survey that requires one hour or more of the time of the interviewee. For example, Those
who need to
know in depth behavior or attitudes of people, prefer to use, in addition to surveys a panel or an
online community.
An online survey is set of structured questions, that the respondent completes over the internet,
generally through filling out a form. An online survey is an easier way to reach out to the respondents
as it is less time consuming than the traditional way of gathering information through one to one
interaction and also less expensive.
Online surveys can differ in length and format used. The data is collected and stored in a database which
is later evaluated by an expert in the field.
As an incentive for respondents to fill out online surveys, businesses offer them with rewards like gift
cards, reward points that they can redeem for goods or services later, free airline miles, discount at
gas stations etc.
Online surveys with rewards is a win-win situation for both, businesses and respondents. The businesses
or organizations get valuable data from a controlled environment, for the market research and for the
respondents it’s a humble gesture from businesses to participate in the survey and spend their valuable
time.
Online surveys are one of the less time consuming methods to reach out to your target audiences, but
that’s not the only advantage of online survey, let us understand what are the other advantages of using
online survey:
Accuracy: In online surveys, usually the margin of error is reduced, as the
respondents register their responses by easy selection buttons. Tradition methods require human
interference and according to a study human interference increase the margin of error by 10%.
Easy and quick to analyze: Since all the responses are registered online, it is
extremely easy and quick to analyze the data in real time. It is also quick to draw inferences and
share the result.
Ease of participation: In this new age technology oriented universe, most people on
this planet have access to the internet. Respondents prefer receiving the survey over the email.
Ease of participation greatly increases as the respondents can choose a suitable time and place,
according to their convenience to register their responses.
Great branding exercise: While designing the survey online, organizations or
businesses have this opportunity to design their survey to align to their brand. Using logos and
similar brand language (color and fonts) in the survey, gives an advantage to the businesses as
respondents are able to connect better with the brand.
Respondents can be honest and flexible at the same time: According to a study
researchers have found an increased participation by respondents when deployed with online surveys
rather than answering lengthy questions. By designing surveys that ask relevant questions,
respondents are honest with their answers and can skip the questions or respondent to a more neutral
option in the survey, increasing their flexibility to respond.
As we explained before, a survey usually has its beginnings when a person, company or
organization faces
a need for information and there is no existing data that is sufficient. Take into account the following
recommendations:
Establish the objectives of your research. These objectives must be clear and
specific.
Develop a methodology. Take into account the
way you will get your sample to reduce
the margin of
error, decide how you will carry out the collection of information, design your
questions and
perform a test before applying the survey.
Anticipate the lack of answers and the time needed to perform your data analysis.
The design of your survey should be
according to the information needs that you require to be
measured.
Avoid biases using clear and well-defined concepts in each question.
Avoid long surveys, they can tire the respondent and make him leave the survey or
he responds
hastily and with errors.
Within the survey design, you also find factors such as, if it is an online or field
survey, a
survey for a mobile application and the type of questions that will be asked, for example,
multiple-choice questions, open-ended questions, scale-of-values, graphic classification, etc., the
jumps of questions, the check boxes, in order.
Pay attention to way you address the questions, both the order of the question’s options and the way
they are written.
Apart from the above mentioned points, it is important to remember that when you ask survey questions
based on past events and experience, you will have to rely and trust on the memory of the respondents.
This is a single “assumed” variable in any survey that seeks to understand user behaviour through past
experiences and events.
The person who conducts a survey is usually called an interviewer or a pollster, whether
they make a
phone call, appear at the door of your house or at the mall to do their work. Those who attend a panel,
or online panel, can also be called administrator.
Those who are responsible for performing this task, preferably should be open people, patients, who have
the ability to approach strangers to engage in a conversation, and carry out the survey according to the
instructions received.
These people are not those who bear the full responsibility of conducting a survey, there are also those
who are dedicated to design it, determine the sample, write the questions, supervise the collection and
analysis of the data and write the corresponding reports of the results obtained.
On the other hand, if you are conducting an online survey, all you have to do is create, send and
automatically analyse the surveys from respondents. A market research analyst is typically the person
who creates and send out these online surveys to be answered by respondents.
When you conduct a survey, you must have access to its analytics. While manual surveys based on pen and
paper or excel sheets require additional man-power to be analysed through experience data analysts, it
becomes much simpler when using an online survey platform. Here, analysis is done automatically because
survey creation and distribution is done digitally as well.
Coming to the privacy aspect of data treatment, this might be a matter of concern for respondents who
decide to participate in a survey. However, the privacy of the information collected is guaranteed or
their authorization is requested to make use of it for research purposes. Do not forget that it is also
a question of ethics, to give the best use to the data obtained and use them only for what is
required.
It is important for a researcher to be able to conduct surveys using the right questions and the right medium to administer and track responses. QuestionPro is a platform that helps not only to create but also to deploy different types of survey. We have more than 300+ types of survey template and survey examples including:
Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) + Net Promoter Score (NPS) Survey: We hear this time and again that customer is king; and it is true. A satisfied customer is a customer that helps your brand and organization grow, through direct means as well as being an advocate for your brand. This survey template talks about the goodwill your brand has created and how referenceable it is.
Company Communications Evaluation Survey Template: This survey example is usually used to analyze employee perspective about what is important to be communicated regularly, topics that should be included in the newsletter, updates on the bulletin board, the efficiency of an organization’s management in communication etc.
Hardware Product Evaluation Survey Template: Improving hardware product features isn’t a very easy proposition due to a lot of elements like raw materials, supply chain and manufacturing lines getting affected by it. Hence, while eliciting feedback for hardware, it is important to be as objective as possible. This survey helps understand exactly what product innovation is required.
Strategic Planning Survey: Innovation is important to any organization’s product or service lines. Hence, implementing customer support and making product or service tweaks when required are extremely important for the sustenance and growth of an organization. This survey template helps organizations chalk out their business strategy.
Business Demographic Survey: This survey template is designed to carry demographic questions and examples that help gain information on occupation, primary area of business, job function and description, organization's gross income etc.
Course Evaluation Survey: This survey template helps educational institutions conduct period feedback on their course and if students find it helpful or not, if it’s stimulating enough and students see this is as value for money along with accentuated learning.
It is very simple and quick to make a survey the questionpro way. Just follow these steps are you are
ready to deploy the survey:
Login to your questionpro account (if you don’t already have one, you can get a FREE
Account today.)
Once you have logged in to your account from the top scroll bar, choose “Survey”
from the drop down box in the top left corner.
Once you select surveys, you can either start making your survey from scratch or choose from already
existing templates.
If you decide to make the survey from scratch, the first step is to name your survey.
Once you name the survey, you are now ready to add relevant questions.
You can choose from a wide range of basic to advance question types from the selection bar on the
left hand side of the page.
For example if you choose “Select one” from the type of questions you will be able to see the
question type being displayed on the screen. You can edit the question that you want to ask the
respondents.
When you edit the options, you can bulk edit the answers accordingly.
Once you have added the questions to your survey you are now ready to deploy the survey to the
respondents.
You can edit the body of the email text and make it more audience specific before you deploy the
survey.
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